2023 Kentucky Gift Guide

KENTUC KY

GIFT GUIDE

BY KENTUCKY MONTHLY MAGAZINE

#shoplocal

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KENTUCKY MADE

Colorful, Clever Crockery

Winchester’s Dirty South

visitors view the lead potter at her wheel as she produces

hued dinnerware, vases and

dishwasher

The selection

Kentucky-centric

as pottery

an

the state and mugs with

company’s trademarked “this

be bourbon” phrase.

Shop Local Buy Kentucky

7 days a week in

Nature

Art and Architecture Aerial townscapes, architecture and pastoral scenes make up most of Mark D. Bird’s paintings. The Louisville native’s grasp of perspective and knowledge of architectural detail are evident in his watercolors, which can be purchased as prints. Bird also has a selection of originals available, including detail paintings of larger works.

MARK D. BIRD FINE ART MARKDBIRD.COM

Here’s Your Sign …

Whether collecting the wood or sawing, sanding, staining and painting each sign by hand, the Peewee Valley family behind 52 Home Art works together to handcraft unique pieces. Mike and Janelle Bradshaw and their four kids create signs with both inspirational and lighthearted messages to brighten your home and your day. They also make clever round wall hangings from reclaimed wood that feature the skyline of your favorite city.

Adding function to

flame…

Fused Glass Fun

never been as much fun as the pieces

by artist

Heilman of Lily (Laurel

collection of colorful, whimsical fish is

as spectacular as her adorable bugs and birds, only to be

Heilman

by her amusing and flamboyant

been an artist for more than 30

piece with fun in mind.

for the one who has everything...

unique gift shop finds

visit...

Ben E. Clement

Mineral Museum Marion clementmineralmuseum.org

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest Clermont bernheim.org

Kentucky Horse Park Lexington kyhorsepark.com

McCreary County Museum Stearns mccrearymuseum.com

Speed Museum Louisville speedmuseum.org

These socks are the perfect accessory for the bourbon connoisseur: simple and classic. $12, shop.fraziermuseum.org

21c Museum Hotels Lexington, Louisville shopat21c.com

shop online...

Capital City Museum Frankfort capital-city-museum. square.site

yFrazier History Museum Louisville shop.fraziermuseum.org

Joseph-Beth Booksellers Lexington, Cinncinati josephbeth.com

Kentucky Derby Museum Louisville derbymuseumstore.com

Kentucky Historical Society Frankfort history.ky.gov

KMAC Museum Louisville kmacmuseum.org

Muhammad Ali Center Louisville store.alicenter.org

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Harrodsburg shop.shakervillageky.org

Kentucky State Parks

Gift cards make ideal gifts for any occasion or anyone on your list. Use them to purchase anything from meals to lodging to gift shop items—whatever you’d like to buy at a Kentucky State Park. The state park gift cards also may be used at the Kentucky Artisan Center, Kentucky Horse Park and Kentucky Historical Society’s 1792 Store. Learn more at parks.ky.gov.

y

This lightweight and portable canvas flask is your ideal travel companion. It holds 8 ounces, and the cap doubles as a shot glass.

$24, shop.fraziermuseum.org

go team...

Lexingtonbased Ada & Lo shop caters to gift givers, with the ideal options for brides, babies and more.

Find the perfect gift for the sports lover on your list.

SHOP NOW ukteamshop.com shop.gocards.com

personalize it...

Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Gift a personalized bat!

SHOP NOW sluggergifts.com

Louisville Stoneware

KY Bourbon Trail Customize a set of bourbon tasting glasses and find plenty of other bourbon gift ideas.

SHOP NOW kybourbontrailshop.com

Whatever the occasion, Stoneware can create a personalized piece of handcrafted pottery that expresses the right sentiment.

SHOP NOW shop.stonewareandco.com

Shopping for a bourbon lover? Visit a local distillery for fun and quirky gift ideas.

Here’s a few we love: Buffalo Trace buffalotracedistillery.com

Castle + Key castleandkey.distilleryspirits.com Maker’s Mark makersmarkshop.com

Skip the flowers and send bourbon.

Honor the bourbon lover in your life with a luxurious gift. Shop a large selection of bourbon-oriented gift sets, bottles and baskets. You can add whiskey glasses or cigars to nearly any gift! Choose from brands such as Woodford Reserve, Bulleit, Knob Creek, Jefferson’s, Maker’s Mark, Angel’s Envy and more.

SHOP NOW spiritedgifts.com/kentucky-bourbon

Treasures

Fun and Functional Using antique broom-making equipment, Ashland-based Bluegrass Brooms produces items that are as useful as they are beautiful. Handcrafted from natural broomcorn, the brooms sport handles made from repurposed and new materials. Some are dyed stunning colors, some are natural, and others— such as a whisk resembling Santa’s head made with a horseshoe as its handle—are fun and whimsical.

to detail is the hallmark

Heekin Pewter. In his northern Kentucky studio, owner/ sculptor Kevin Heekin creates 15- to 28-millimeter miniatures, some drawn from life and others drawn from Heekin’s

The figures include those of medieval characters, soldiers, animals, chessmen and nativities.

give the gift of a kentucky staycation

Willis Graves Bed & Breakfast is an awardwinning oasis of luxury and comfort in a classic American setting. Known for timeless serenity and exquisite luxury, Willis Graves is a unique country getaway that’s surprisingly close to everything.

5825 N. JEFFERSON STREET, BURLINGTON, KY, 41005 willisgraves.com, 859.689.5096

Belle Louise Historic Guest House 304 N 6th Street, Paducah bellelouisepaducah.com 270.210.2553

Benham School House Inn 100 Central Ave, Benham benhaminn.com 606.848.3000

Bourbon Manor 714 N 3rd Street, Bardstown bourbonmanor.com 502.268.7266

Grand Victorian Inn 5 Old Dixie Hwy, Park City grandvictorianinnky.com 270.590.1935

Inn at Woodhaven 401 South Hubbards Lane, Louisville innatwoodhaven.com 888.895.1011

Riverside Inn B&B 85 US-42, Warsaw riversideinnbb.com 859.567.1399

River Trails Inn 301 Hill Street, Livermore airbnb.com/rooms/38361408

Southern Grace B&B 325 Kirchdorfer Rd, Brandenburg southerngracebb.com 270.422.7974

Pillow and Paddock B&B 3262 Old Sligo Rd, La Grange pillowandpaddock.com 502.222.4372

Colorful

a deeply saturated color palette, artist Kim Perry creates oil paintings rich in visual depth. Her signature themes are bourbon and florals, but she also turns her creative focus to varied subjects such as fruit, chairs and even utility linemen. Art lovers can purchase the Louisville resident’s original paintings, giclée prints, gallery-wrapped canvas prints, and notecards.

Artistry

work of longtime potter Mitchell Rickman should be

to many Kentuckians,

it has appeared at local arts

crafts fairs for years. Rickman’s

blue, aqua and green color

graces his

mugs, bowls, pie plates,

and casseroles.

Bowling Green resident’s

Options Abound Pawley Studios in Russellville offers a large selection of bowls, canisters, vases, mugs and more.

can purchase an artful piece of drip-glaze pottery;

from items that feature pop culture references such as Dr. Who, Harry Potter and Game of Thrones; or make their gifts even more special

personalizing them.

Gourmet Birdseed

Whether you know someone who is fascinated with birds or need a gift for a person who seemingly has everything, a subscription to The Happy Birdwatcher could fit the bill. The company creates a blend of birdseed specifically for the avian friends found in the recipient’s zip code. Each three- and six-month gift subscription arrives with region-specific information about the birds that may be found in the backyard.

5Picks for Local Gift Giving

GRAVISS STUDIOS

Debbie Graviss’ inspiration is creating beauty, joy and goodness through art and design. Debbie is a pastel artist and long term animal activist. She paints Kentucky wildlife, landscapes, animals and florals.

picks...

SLAB AND CEDAR

A resident of southeastern Kentucky, Kelsey throws functional pottery inspired by designs of the Northwest.

Marie McLamb is the writer of @Bluegrassblog, sharing her love for Kentucky, travel, small towns and local businesses. She is celebrating her fifth year of encouraging tourists to visit and inspiring natives to explore their own backyard.

Marie also is the owner and creator of the @BluegrassCreativeMarket, a festival-style quarterly pop up of more than 50 curated Kentucky artists and makers in Lexington, complete with food/drink trucks, live music and plenty of fun celebrating all things local.

ROSEBUD RANCH

Artist and founder Carrie Murthy strives to be a compassionate voice for all animals and the Kentuckians who volunteer and work in animal rescue. One hundred perfect of profits go toward animal welfare.

LOST WOOD CREATIVE

A one-man shop for custom wood and epoxy creations, Lost Wood offers unique pieces by Ben Stuery, who is a graphic artist by day and woodworker by night.

BACKROADBLUEGRASS.COM

@BluegrassCreativeMarket

NERD BABES CO.

Recently awarded the Green Check Certification from @livegreenlex for the city of Lexington, maker Carrie Johnson proudly upcycles glass bottles, cans and other items into candles, tiki torches and lamps.

the reader...

from a ky author.

Lark Ascending

By Silas House

Beloved Kentucky writer Silas House’s newest book is set in the not-so-distant future, where America has been scorched by nature and politics. Twenty-yearold Lark must set out on his own to find safety and freedom. Lark Ascending is a story of hardship and loss, but also love, loyalty and hope.

Kentucky Barns: Agricultural Heritage of the Bluegrass

By Carol Peachee

With almost 400 full-color photos, photographer Carol Peachee has captured the beauty, mystery and awe of Kentucky barns. Featuring interior and exterior shots, the book illuminates the structures that house Kentucky icons such as horses, bourbon and tobacco.

Groundskeeping

By Lee Cole

The debut novel by western Kentucky native Lee Cole, Groundskeeping is set in Louisville, primarily at a fictional liberal arts college, where main character Owen Callahan enters a relationship with a woman from a strikingly different cultural background.

That Kind of Journalist

Stephen M. Vest is the editor, publisher and founder of Kentucky Monthly magazine. He is the author of two collections of his columns and the publisher of the anthology Kentucky’s Twelve Days of Christmas. His work has appeared in several literary journals.

SHOP NOW

$29.00, That Kind of Journalist and Unexpected Inheritance combo, shopkentuckymonthly.com

Shop Kentucky

inspired gifts

‘General’ Gift Ideas

an afternoon of oldschool shopping at one of

general stores. Like those of yesteryear, these establishments

a wide variety of goods—from candles and candies to clothing

crockery.

General Store

General Store

General Store

Hash General Store

Unexpected

Kentucky Soaps & Such has been making generosity easier since the creation of our signature gift baskets in 2006. We offer a variety of options, featuring bath products, snacks, and more—all built to fit almost any budget.

gift an experiencefor the explorer...

A gift card is always the right size! Stumped for a gift idea? How about a membership or a gift card to an event or Kentucky landmark?

A visit to a bed & breakfast can be a special treat. Find out more on page 15.

One-of-a-Kind Restaurants

A tasty lunch or delicious dinner is always appreciated.

Greyhound Tavern greyhoundtavern.com

Whistle Stop Café whistlestopky.com

Miguel’s Pizza miguelspizza.com

Moonlight Bar-B-Q moonlite.com

A Show or Season Package

Gift friends or family with onstage entertainment.

Broadway in Louisville louisville.broadway.com

Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com

The Carson Center thecarsoncenter.org

Pioneer Playhouse pioneerplayhouse.com

Alums and undergrads of Kentucky colleges and universities appreciate the gift of swag and game wear that they can pick out themselves from a university bookstore.

How about a tour?

There are plenty of tour operators around the state that offer visits to horse farms, distilleries, historical sites, and, sometimes, all three in one! visithorsecountry.com mintjuleptours.com bluegrasstours.com stonefencestours.com

Kentucky’s Legendary Inns

A night or two at a historic inn might make someone’s day.

Beaumont Inn beaumontinn.com

The Brown Hotel brownhotel.com

Boone Tavern boonetavernhotel.com

Old Talbott Tavern talbotttavern.com

The Seelbach seelbachhilton.com

Visit of a lifetime?

How about tickets to the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks? kentuckyderby.com

Memberships

Kentucky attractions offer a glimpse into the Commonwealth’s distinctive culture.

Frazier History Museum fraziermuseum.org

Behringer-Crawford Museum bcmuseum.org Keeneland keeneland.com

Kentucky Derby Museum derbymuseum.org

Louisville Zoo louisvillezoo.org

National Corvette Museum corvettemuseum.org

Newport Aquarium newportaquarium.com

Speed Art Museum speedmuseum.org

Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum kentuckymusichalloffame.com

Kentucky Gateway Museum kygmc.org

Where’s the Beef?

Bourbon County’s Mingua Beef Jerky produces hearty and savory deliciousness packaged in various sizes that make ideal stocking stuffers.

Kentucky Jerky • May minguabeefjerky.com

as seen in...

Kentucky Monthly features products, Kentuckians and businesses all year long. Here are a few of our favorites from this year.

Awe-Inspiring Architecture

Visitors can get a glimpse of the grandeur of the Victorian era with a tour of Old Louisville and commemorate the visit to the historic neighborhood with Louisville Historic Tours’ merchandise.

Gilded Age Glamour • March louisvillehistorictours.com/ old-louisville-merchandise

A Colorful Touch of Whimsy

Fans of artist’s Ellen Skidmore’s paintings have admired them on exhibit and can enjoy one of her joyous, fanciful creations in their homes with the gift of a giclee print.

Finding Her Voice • April ellenskidmore.com/giclees

The Scent of Serenity

The first commercial lavender farm in the Commonwealth, Lavender Hills of Kentucky offers a bounty of products created with the fragrant flower whose scent is thought to have a calming effect. Lavender Fields Forever • June/July lavenderhillsofkentucky.com/gift-shop

In Good Taste

Send a loving scoop—or two or three— to friends and family with a gift card to Spotz Gelato, which boasts six locations in the Commonwealth.

Sweet Spotz • August spotzgelato.com/gift-cards

Cooking With Vino

Wine aficionado and author P. Faye Collins partnered with Chef Lee Ann Rose to write Vineyard to Table: Cooking With Kentucky Wine—a thoughtful gift for the wine lover and home chef on your list.

Wine Is Fine • August butlerbooks.com

A Cup of Comfort

Renowned hatmaker Polly Singer has expanded her creative repertoire to include a flavorful selection of couture teas.

Hats Off to the Tea Maker • October hatsandveils.net/product-category/ artisan-teas

for the kentucky cook...

gift a cookbook.

Just a Few Miles South: Timeless Recipes from Our Favorite Places by Ouita Michel

All proud Kentuckians should have a copy of Ouita Michel’s cookbook. Chances are that readers have been enjoying her meals for years, as Michel owns several central Kentucky restaurants. Home chefs can prepare her signature Southern dishes and farm-to-table recipes and enjoy some of those favorite dishes at home.

The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook

by Albert W. A. Schmid

Although most Kentuckians think of bourbon as the essential ingredient in an old fashioned, Albert W.A. Schmid has created a cookbook full of recipes for every course of a meal. Included are recipes for cocktails, marinades and desserts—along with tales of Kentucky legends, history and traditions—to round out this book that honors our native spirit.

Tasting Kentucky: Favorite Recipes from the Bluegrass State

by Maggie Green

Chef Maggie Green knows the ins and outs of a Kentucky meal and created a cookbook that includes all the dishes that one would expect to find on a table in the Bluegrass State. In addition to easyto-follow recipes for dishes such as fried chicken, Benedictine, burgoo, and northern Kentucky staple goetta, Green included luscious four-color photos.

Seasoned Cooking of Kentucky

With more than 200 recipes, this cookbook provides just the right amount of sugar and spice to keep you cooking and your friends and families satisfied the whole year through.

$29.95, shopkentuckymonthly.com